Michael Jackson's posthumous  new single, "This Is It" began streaming online and playing on radio stations on Monday. The singer died four months ago from a prescription drugs overdose at age 50.

A series of 50 concerts scheduled at London's 02 Arena from July 2009 through March 2010 was also entitled "This Is It".

The single is part of a related package, which includes a two-disc album and a film based on rehearsals and preparations for the O2 Arena concert series.

The soulful track, which features backing vocals by Jackson's brothers, goes on sale on Oct. 26, internationally and on Oct. 27, in North America to coincide with the release of the film.

The "This Is It" film was the subject of a $60 million (38 million pound) deal between Jackson's estate and concert promoter AEG Live and Sony Pictures. Sony Music's Columbia/Epic Label Group will be releasing the album.

What do you think of the single?

Is this just an opportunity for stakeholders to make a cash grab or is it a legitimate tribute to the singer and his premature death?

Nothing was sacred to "Monty Python's Flying Circus" -- and that is probably why the comedy troupe's television show became so popular.

The irreverent programme starring  John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman first aired 40 years ago in 1969.

Among Monty Python's most popular TV skits are those that mock unworkable aspects of Britain's authoritarian class structure, including its famously intractable rules, monumental political bureaucracy and befuddling misrepresentations.

After several seasons the show stopped airing in Britain, but played on in North American television re-runs.

Python members widened their scope in such Hollywood films as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and the controversial "Life of Brian," considered blasphemous in some circles because of its comedic references to Jesus Christ.

Monty Python will receive a BAFTA at a special ceremony in New York on October 15 as a tribute to their contribution to British comedy.

Do you have a favourite Monty Python sketch?

Watch clips selected from the YouTube Monty Python channel and let us know.

A framed handwritten report card from 1950 on the wall of Mendips, John Lennon's childhood home in Liverpool, states:

"John has worked quite well this term. His oral work is very good, his written work is good, but he chatters far too much."

Lennon, born in 1940, had been living on Menlove Avenue with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George for five years when that report was issued.

In retrospect, the remarks may have hinted at Lennon's later prolific songwriting talents.

Despite his aunt's academic encouragements, Lennon left Liverpool's Quarry Bank High School in 1957 without qualifications, but with the foundations of his musical career established in his skiffle group the Quarry Men.

He met Paul McCartney, who lived not far away at 20 Forthlin Road in 1957, and the two turned their talents to composing songs. The rest is history, as they say.

Their band, The Beatles, which has sold more than 600 million albums worldwide, went on to become arguably the world's most successful pop band.

On Wednesday, Apple and EMI will release digitally re-mastered versions of The Beatles' UK studio albums. Simultaneously, a Beatles computer game will go on sale.

The Beatles broke up in 1969. Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph refers to their original albums as a "holy grail, the font of pop culture, when four incredibly talented individuals experienced a kind of collective, accelerated musical growth that untapped all the latent potential of pop."

Do you think The Beatles are worth the bother or are they overrated?

More than 50 million pounds worth of tickets were sold to see Michael Jackson perform at London's O2 Arena where he was scheduled for a series of 50 concerts before his death.

The King of Pop's run at the O2, scheduled to kick off in July, would have been the highest-grossing single concert engagement.

Fans have the choice of returning their ticket, or receiving it as a souvenir instead of getting a refund up until August 14. The tickets, which at face value cost 50 to 75 pounds, will show the concert date and seat location of the ticket as originally purchased.

If you had bought a ticket to see him perform, would you exchange it for face value, or would you hold onto it and hope to strike it rich by selling it as a collectors' item in years to come?

She's odds-on favourite to win Saturday's final of "Britain's Got Talent," she's become an overnight international star and now she's started out on the trail to tabloid sainthood by acquiring her own headline moniker "SuBo."

But not everyone thinks Susan Boyle is a dead cert for the title. Singer Lily Allen for one thinks she's over-rated. "I thought her timing was off, no control, and I don't think she has an amazing voice," Allen said of Boyle's rendition on Sunday of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Memory" from the Cats musical.

Maybe there's a touch of over-exposure creeping in. Could the fable of the unlikely lass dragged away from West Lothian and thrust via the Internet into the world spotlight be starting to wear a little thin?

The competition is hot too. Dance acts Diversity and Flawless, singers Shaun Smith and Shaheen Jafargholi and even the Greek father and son combo Stavros Flatley have proved mighty popular with the phone-in viewers who have the ultimate say.

Do you think Boyle is going to win?

ITV executive chairman Michael Grade said he had only seen once before Thursday the clip of Susan Boyle singing on ITV show "Britain's Got Talent", that has received more than 100 million hits on YouTube, but has not yet netted the broadcaster revenue from the video-sharing site owned by Google.

"I've been incredibly busy over the last few weeks and I have only had one opportunity to view a piece of television that's taken the world by storm," he told the Voice of the Listener & Viewer Spring Conference in London.

"I'd like to have another look at Susan Boyle," he said, before playing the video.

ITV is reported to be in discussions with YouTube about monetising traffic
generated by demand for the 47-year old Scottish church volunteer.

Grade, who last week announced he would step down as executive chairman of ITV, is reported to loathe YouTube, and has called it a parasite living off content created by broadcasters.